Clockwise around Central Europe and back again.

[jumartoo]

Next episode sooner than over a week, please!


Edit

Bike ride? Now? Have you seen the time???

 

[Armytwowheels]

Next episode sooner than over a week, please!


Edit

Bike ride? Now? Have you seen the time???

Yes boss!

 

[Armytwowheels]

Edit

Bike ride? Now? Have you seen the time???

I have to actually get out of bed first and get dressed. We woke up to 3c this morning, now it is 9c, by the time we are ready and get the bikes out I hope it will be a lot warmer.

Edit - and I have to wait for Colin to reappear from next doors van who's heater has stopped working! Nothing changes

 

[jtp890]

Glad to see he,s keeping his hand in. Van has run brilliant since we took turbo booster off. We will be near Totana up to mid December, in car though, are we still allowed to call?

 

[jumartoo]

Glad to see he,s keeping his hand in. Van has run brilliant since we took turbo booster off. We will be near Totana up to mid December, in car though, are we still allowed to call?

Of course!

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[Armytwowheels]

To cross the border into Spain we treated ourselves to a bit of toll road to get past the horrible bit through Bayonne, Biarritz and San Sebastian. We picked another nice free aire in a quiet location overlooking the town of Ellorrio, between San Sebastian and Bilbao, ideal for a first or last night stop for anyone using those ports.
Camper Contact # 50257

Area Autocaravanas Elorrio
http://www.campercontact.com/en/spa...57/area-autocaravanas-elorrio.aspx?lang=en_EN

There's not a lot I can say about the town as we didn't walk far but there was a lovely park along the side of the main road in and out of the town, Izzy enjoyed that.

The next day we drove to the coast for an overnight stop at PAID for camperstop near the village of Cóbreces, just along the coast to Santander. It was €9 a night and this included water, waste etc and hot showers, which were spotless. Another good stop for anyone using the ports of Northern Spain.
Camper Contact # 56636
Parking Las Hazas
http://www.campercontact.com/en/spa...reces/56636/parking-las-hazas.aspx?lang=en_EN

Here we had a lovely walk, my first rough off road one since the foot op, along the coastal path, know locally as the Broken Coast (I forgot what our host called it, but it roughly meant The Broken Coast). It was wild and windy to say the least, beautiful for all it's ruggedness.

On the way back to the camperstop we met these lovelies and Izzy was besotted with the baby donkey, licking it's face and ears, donkey returned the favour by licking her head! I am sure Izzy is mellowing in her old age!

When we got back to the site we had a nice chat with our Dutch and German neighbours while the site owner handed out apples from her own Orchard. The dog next door in the Dutch van then disgraced itself by chasing the site Peacock across the field, Izzy gave it the paws up and approved such behaviour.

 

[Armytwowheels]

We were heading to the Picos de Europa to put the brake on for a few days do so some cycling, but having had a quick virtual chat with my cycling Spain guru aka @jumar re the steepness of the hills and my foot needing flatish rides for now, we decided to take up his suggestion of riding some of the Spanish Via Verdes. These are reclaimed disused railway lines converted into cycling and walking paths, Vias Verda

With the hope that these routes would give us the distance to regain fitness but not stress my foot with long up hills, we set off to the village of Entrago, in the Asturias region to ride our first Via Verda.

The camperstop is right on the trail so no need to worry about not finding it, no maps required. Camperstop #5993
Parking Senda del Oso
http://www.campercontact.com/en/spa...go/5993/parking-senda-del-oso.aspx?lang=en_EN
The next day we had really nice ride along the Send a del Oso. It wasn't warm and a couple of layers were needed but the sun shone in time for our coffee stop. The route was a bit damp and slippy due to the track being cut into hillside in places and the amount of trees, but the scenery was stunning.

We shared the camperstop with some alternatives (homemade campervans etc) who turned out to be touring climbers, all a good crowd and had a laugh and a joke with us about the size of our van.

Finally, Colin in his natural environment - outside a cafe.

 

[jumartoo]

Glad you managed to get a ride done. Watch out for the bears! Where are you going to next?

 

[Armytwowheels]

Glad you managed to get a ride done. Watch out for the bears! Where are you going to next?

The only bear we saw was a stuffed one in one of the shops, where we had coffee, it was huge. We are now in Andalusia parked up ready to do the VV-de-la-Sierra tomorrow morning, but I am jumping ahead as we have done some more in between Seda del Oso and this one, I still have some more updating to do.

 

[jumartoo]

Where are you parked?

Look out for the vultures on that route (silly thing to say you can't miss seeing them!). When we last rode it there was deep water in a tunnel but I imagine it'll be dry this year.

I'm glad you're enjoying them and I'm waiting to see what others you've done. When you're ready ............

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[Armytwowheels]

We are parked at the Purnto Serrano end, will be riding towards Olvera. Up early and almost ready to go. It's going to be busy as it's Sunday and we want to get done before the heat really comes on, it was 32c in the van yesterday afternoon.

Had a nice tapas lunch in the reused station yesterday.

Will look out for the vultures and avoid looking like I am going to die!

 

[DBK]

Some cracking aires you found in northern Spain. I'm a bit slow catching up with this thread as we've only just got back from our own trip but I'm looking forward to reading about your travels. Best wishes!

 

[jumartoo]

Halfway along there's an information centre and, I think, cafe. It's across from the main vulture cliffs.

 

[Armytwowheels]

Well, as predidicted by some, I haven't kept up with this thread very well.

Currently in Italy, near Venice on an ACSI site with good internet. We are leaving today but I will attempt an 'in a nut' shell catch up.

We have had a great winter and now just about into Spring. After riding a few more Via Verdas on our way South, we finally rocked up at Totana and of course stayed on the lovely Sierra Espuna Camperstop, home of the infamous Jumars .

Just a few of my favourite pics from our stay there.

 

[Armytwowheels]

From Totana we had a sneaky few days free camping down on the coast in La Azohia for a bit of Kayaking, cycling and to see in the new year with friends Vince and Maggie.

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[Armytwowheels]

After a brief visit back to Totana to have the last physio treatment on my foot - long story short following a foot operation in August in the UK, the follow up physio treatment was done in Spain. As I had to pay for the physio I thought I might as well have it done in the warm - we once again return for two nights to La Azohia as we wanted to cycle up to the Bateria de Castillitos.

We joined friends Mark and Caroline for the ride, who gave us a run for our money on their electric bikes, but it was a great ride up (and down) and the scenary was fabulous. We took a small packed lunch, which was just as well as there is nowhere to purchase anything once up at the fort.

These huge guns were placed there to protect Cartagene Bay and apparently only fired their one ton shots once during the Spanis Civil War, as no one dare challage them after that!

It is well worth a visit if you are in the area, as said the scenary getting up there is fab and the site itself is free to just wander around, no entrace fee and I think it was free parking for cars too. The barracks are mostly still intact and suprisingly ornate, in a castleated way! The last photo is not mine, as I forgot to take one of the fort itself.

 

[jumartoo]

Keep going, you're still a long way behind!

 

[Armytwowheels]

Keep going, you're still a long way behind!

Ok mum!

 

[Armytwowheels]

After the bike ride to the guns, we got back to the van thinking about sitting on the beach with a cold beer, but no, we got back to empty gas bottles and had to pack up and do a mercy dash to Cartagena for GPL in order to save the contents of a well stocked fridge and freezer. To this day we don't know how we missed the warning light, or did something go wrong, as I am certain the bottles had only changed over the day before. Anyway, it has been OK since, so no point worrying about it.

If you are touring in the Cartagena area the garage where we got the GPL is worth knowing about. It has a small aire, a van/car wash area with a gantry to do wash the roof and you can empty and fill up too.

Camper Contact 10727
Area de Belmonte Plus
http://www.campercontact.com/en/spa...a/10727/area-de-belmonte-plus.aspx?lang=en_EN

With the motorhome ablutions all done, we set off to La Marina, near Guardamar del Segura to visit friends who have recently bought a house there. We also visited this well know Funster @Dazzlin who cooked us a lovely tapas lunch while we chilled out in the garden and had good old catch up.

We stayed at a small paid for aire behind a petrol station. Doesn't sound the best but it was close to where we wanted to be and had a laundry, which was sorely needed. We also took advantage of being near a shoe repairer who did awnings and parasols etc and managed to get our external screens repaired, the binding and the elastic strapes had all suffered from 3 years worth of sunny winters.

The next day we decided to go up into the hills in land from Alicanti to get away from the built up coast and get some cycling and walking done.

We choose a tiny campsite up in hills above Hondon Las Nieves, near Aspe.
Camper Contact 27038
Jaime

The owners were some of the nicest people we had ever met and couldn't have made us feel more welcome. The camperstop is set in a beautiful location with many walking and cycling oppertunities. The only downside for us was the location of a few stone quaries that meant on some roads we cycled along we were being passed by huge stone carrying lorries. On the Saturday the owner came and took whoever wanted to go to the local town to pick up a spit roast chicken takeaway, available on Saturdays only. The chickens are basted in white wine and tasted supurb. Sorry about the lack of decent photos, not sure why I didn't take very many.

After this we made a brief stop in Calpe to visit our Greece bound buddies Kath and Bill (aka @Bentleybill). After a quick planning meeting which consisted of deciding which ferry route we were going to take, we progressed to a few bevvies to celebrate achieving such an arduous and lengthy decision making process.

By now the weather along the Costas was getting cold and damp so after a ride out to Moraira, which was a bit chilly to say the least,

we decided that as we where going skiing anyway we might as well pack up and bee-line it to Alps. The next day saw us packing up and planning the quickest route to Montgeneve on the French/Italian border.

 

[Armytwowheels]

We left Spain and crossed over into France and got up to the Alps with just 2 night stops and once in France used the tolls €€€€€ to get up to Montgeneve in doubl quick time. The roads were clear, but the evidence of the huge amount of snow they had experienced was still there.

As we stayed in Montgenèvre for nearly 5 weeks, to give a blow by blow account would take me ages and be boring as he'l for the rest of you, so a few facts in case anyone would like to visit (highly reccommended) and a few of my favouite photos.

The aire we stayed on is right next to the resort and there is a regular free bus to the village centre and the main ski lifts.
Camper Contact 2350
Aire de Camping-Car du Collet
http://www.campercontact.com/en/fra...aire-de-camping-car-du-collet.aspx?lang=en_EN

It costs €13 a night, however if you stay 7 nights the cost goes down to €9 a night. This included 10amp electric, fresh water and waste facilities (even for black tanks). It does get very full at the weekends, especially if it is an Italian holiday, but during the week there are usually plenty of places. If you plan to go, make sure you arrive during the week.

The resort it's self has the typical French Alps expensive supermarkets, which had an eye watering mark up on everything. We caught the bus down to Brianćon a couple of times to the LeClerc to restock. Eating out wasn't too bad, price wise, and there are plenty of places to choose from. Eating on the slopes was expensive and you wasted half your time queing to get served, so we took a made up baguette with us and just found somewhere sheltered to eat it. Although there is an art to not squashing your packed lunch when stowed in your rucksack and using the chairlifts!

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[jumartoo]

This thread is going to be a bit like painting the Forth Bridge

 

[Jenben]

To help Sandra out I will post a picture from the aire at Montgenèvre , what a lovely snowy spot it was and we had great neighbours.

 

[Armytwowheels]

The problem is loading the photos when using our Mifi, it uses loads of data and is so slow.

 

[Armytwowheels]

Just a few photos of Montgenevre while I have use of campsite Wi-Fi.

Our regular lunchtime picnic spot, when the sun was out.

Sunning views wherever you look.

Snowshoe walks.

Our camper is down there somewhere.

After a great 5 weeks, which included almost two weeks with Mark and Caroline (@Concord) a week the Mr and Mrs Jenbens and a few days with the Haganaps we finaly leave the very lovely Montgeneve and cross the boarder into Italy, heading for Turin.

 

[Armytwowheels]

Turin was a pleasant city to visit, not too frantic and easy to park in the suburbs and get the tram in to the centre. Dog friendly and all very relaxed, or so it seemed to us. Mind you it was March and not tourist season. The sun came out for our day in Turin, which meant we were down to single layer clothing making a nice change from our time in Montgenevre.

We stopped at a rather expensive aire but it was perfect for leaving the van to go into the city in the tram. At €18 A night plus extra for electric and fresh water it was a bit eye watering, but hey ho!
Camper Contact 41696
Caio Mario
http://www.campercontact.com/en/ita...b-vc-/torino/41696/caio-mario.aspx?lang=en_EN

He

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[Armytwowheels]

When we left Turin, heading for Venice, we realised that the grinding noise from the front brakes wasn't going away and in fact getting worse. We had thought the discs were rusted from 5 weeks in the snow, so now a visit to a garage had to be arranged.

I couldn't find a Fiat garage when searching Google that was open (it was a Sunday after all) so we carried on to Venice and hoped to sort it out there. Ironicly, we had been parked opposite the Fiat Factory in Turin!

Anyways, we get to our chosen campsite on the mainland with a view of Venice Island in the distance. As it was due to rain and be pretty cold for the next two days we decided to not visit Venice until the 3rd day, which should be sunny.

We camped here - Camper Contact 23204. It is also an ACSI site and worked out cheaper than the AIRE on the Island. Very nice site indeed.
Venezia Camping Village
http://www.campercontact.com/en/ita...23204/venezia-camping-village.aspx?lang=en_EN

This turned out to be our lucky day, once pitched we walked down the road to the local Lidl and right next door was a motorhome dealer, closed but they must know where to get the brakes sorted. The next morning we had the info we needed but couldn't get an appointment until the following day. The brakes just need new pads and they did the job in less than an hour and we were back on the site by 11:30 for coffee and decided to go over to Venice on the bus for lunch - bus stop about 200 metres from the campsite.

Venice of course was stunning and the sun came out almost as soon as we reached the Island.

I have loads of photos but not the date to upload them, so just a few to give the flavour of the place.

And some shoes I was tempted to buy! Not sure they go with the motorhome lifestyle though.

 

[Mr Ed]

Blimey I thought we had a lot of rain in Spain this winter but the roads weren't that bad.

 

[TerryL]

Heading down that way next week. Keep posting, useful info. You never know mught come across each other.

Your visit to Montgenevre reminded me of the only time I've been on skis. Driving a school trip there one day managed to blag a couple of ski-lift passes and met our party at the top. The main teacher then stood me on the front of his skis and took me down to the next station!

 

[mitzimad]

im not normally a betting man but i will put money on colin not being the last of the great romantics and taking you on a gondola unless they take acsi now

 

[davidbaldam]

Glad you got the van sorted Sandra, we’ve stayed on that site in Venice twice now and found it very handy with a great shower block. With Venice, the idea is to get lost in the back streets.

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